The pioneer printer of Seneca County was George Lewis, who, in the year 1815, started in the village of Ovid a small sheet entitled the Seneca Patriot. The office of publication was located on Seneca Street, in the upper story of a building on whose site the engine-house now stands. At the close of a single volume, Mr. Lewis changed the name of his paper to The Ovid Gazette, and when Elisha Williams secured the removal of the County seat to Waterloo, Lewis removed hither with his press in May, 1817, and continued the issue of his paper as The Waterloo Gazette, which thus became known also as the first paper published in that village. A partial file of these papers is preserved in the rooms of the Historical Society at Waterloo. The oldest copy is Vol. I., No. 6. It is printed upon coarse paper, and is simply plain in execution. Its terms were: Delivered, S2.00 a year; at office, $1.75; club rates, S1.50, and deductions made to post-riders. Herein John Goodwin informs the public that he has added another boat to his ferry, which will enable him to keep one on each side of the Lake Seneca. William Thompson, Esq., gives an order of sale at vendue of a part of the real estate of Thomas W. Roosevelt, of Junius. Lewis Birdsall, then sheriff, offers for sale his tavern-stand near the turnpike gate in Junius. John Watkins gives notice for debtors to settle under penalty of a positive prosecution, and a lover of beer enters his protest against adulterating his favorite beverage with Indian cockle. Postmasters Jesse Clark, of Waterloo, and Abijah Mann, Jr., of Seneca Falls, advertise lists of letters, and President James Monroe is announced as upon a visit in Connecticut to the gun-factory of Eli Whitney, Esq.

The following information is an attempt to provide details into not only the history of Waterloo New York newspapers, but also the sources available online and offline for the genealogist and historian to access the newspapers, or transcriptions therefrom. Newspapers remain a vital source of material for genealogists. They often provide vivid insight into the lives of our ancestors unlike other factual records.

There is a typewritten manuscript found at Brigham Young University in which contains extractions of the marriages and deaths from miscellaneous newspapers, for Waterloo, Seneca Falls, Ovid, Trumansburg and Geneva, 1807-1908. Written by Crystal W. Fegley, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1970. Microreproduction of typescript (71 p.), written in 1969. This film can be loaned from the Family History Center. Film Num. 833158. It is not known which specific papers in Ovid were transcribed, and how much overlap there may be with a similar manuscript written by Mary S. Jackson and Edward F. Jackson: Marriage and death notices from Seneca County, New York newspapers, 1817-1885, and Jesse Howell Finch: Vital records from the Ovid bee.

Waterloo Gazette, Volume 1817-1824

When Elisha Williams secured the removal of the County seat to Waterloo, Lewis removed hither with his press in May, 1817, and continued the issue of his paper, The Ovid Gazette, as The Waterloo Gazette, which thus became known also as the first paper published in that village. Lewis soon disposed of the Gazette to Hiram Leavenworth, by whom its publication was continued until in 1818, when John McLean, Jr., who had been appointed Judge of this County by the Governor and Council, associated with Mr. Leavenworth in editing and publishing the sheet. In 1821 McLean retired, and the former proprietor continued once more the publication as its sole owner. Leavenworth kept his small sheet well filled with decided expressions of political views of the old Federal stamp under the first alias – Clintonian. The office was situated in a small building just west of the old Eagle Tavern. A front room was occupied as the law-office of Elisha D. Whittlesey. The back room, in size about fourteen by eighteen feet, was press-room, type-room, and editor’s sanctum. Party spirit ran high, and one night the press was rifled of its bed-plate, and, with a form of type, thrown into the river. The issues were delayed for a few weeks, but that was a small matter at that date. The Gazette was discontinued in 1822 when the Waterloo Enunciator began publication.

2 July 1817 – 12 Dec 1821, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

2 July 1817 – 12 Dec 1821, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Libr, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

6 Aug 1817, Original, Single Issue

New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY

23 Dec 1818 – 14 Mar 1821, Original, Scattered Issues

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

6 Jan 1819, Original, Single Issue

Skaneateles Library, Skaneateles, NY

17 Nov 1819, Original, Single Issue

Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH

21 Feb 1821, Original, Single Issue

Library of Congress, Washington, DC Collected in NY portfolio #18

17 Oct 1821, Original, Single issue

New York Hist Society, New York, NY

Waterloo Enunciator, 1822-1822

The Waterloo Enunciator was a weekly newspaper published by B. B. Drake in 1822. He changed the name to the Waterloo Republican to more reflect the political leanings of the paper in July 1822.

2 Jan 1822 – 28 Jun 1822, Microfilm

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

9 Jan 1822 – 28 Jun 1822, Microfilm, Incomplete

New York State Library, Albany, NY

31 Mar 1822, Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

31 Mar 1822, Microfilm, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Waterloo Republican, 1822-18??

In 1822, the Waterloo Republican, under the management of B. B. Drake, made its entry upon public life, and the Enunciator was discontinued. The last issue I can find is dated 30 Jul 1823 and it is assumed that the Republican ceased operation soon after.

5 Jul 1822 – 30 Jul 1823, Microfilm

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

New York State Library, Albany, NY

12 Jul 1822 – 16 Jul 1823, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

12 Jul 1822 – 16 Jul 1823, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

5 Feb 1823, Original, Single Issue

New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY

The Seneca Farmer, 1823-1825

In June, 1823, the Seneca Farmer was started in Waterloo, under the control of William Child, in a building opposite the court-house. In 1825 he changed the name of the paper to the Seneca Farmer and Waterloo Advertiser.

20 Aug 1823 – 23 Nov 1825, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

20 Aug 1823 – 22 Dec 1824, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

27 Oct 1824, Original, Single Issue

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

17 Nov 1824, Original, Single Issue

New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY

The Waterloo Observer, 1824-1828

The Waterloo Observer first made its appearance in 1824, published and edited by Charles Sentell, and has been regularly issued, without a continued change of name, under different proprietors and editors, until the present time.1 It has adhered to the same principles advocated in its very first number, and, through all changes in ownership, has never swerved from the advocacy of Democratic principles. We know of no existing copies of this newspaper.

The Seneca Farmer and Waterloo Advertiser, 1825-1831

From 1826 to 1829, the editor chronicles many events of a local character, gives the public the latest developments upon and against Masonry, and announces a celebration of July 4, 1829, at which an oration was delivered by Ansel Bascom, Esq. The doors of hospitality were thrown open to the old Revolutionary soldiers, for the most important service ever rendered to a free people, and every desirable refreshment through the day bestowed without money and without price.” The Seneca Farmer was published in Waterloo till August 10, 1831, and then its place of publication was changed by Childs to Seneca Falls, and in 1832 united with The Seneca Falls Journal. We know of no existing copies of this newspaper.

The Gazette, and Seneca Advertiser, 1826-1828

The Gazette and Seneca Advertiser began weekly publication on 19 Jan 1826 by H. Gates and Voorhies.

12 Jul 1826, Original and Microfilm, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

18 Oct 1826, Original and Microfilm, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

The Republican Observer, 1828

The Observer was published by M. Severance in 1828 under the name of the Republican Observer.

15 Oct 1828, Microfilm, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

20 Feb 1828, Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

The Waterloo Observer, 1829-1832

During 1829 the Observer newspaper was published by the firm of E. P. Moon & A. B. Gunn with C. Sentell as it’s editor. It is unknown if this was the arrangement for all 4 years under publication by this name. The Observer continued to be published under the name Seneca Observer.

8 Jul 1829, Original, Single Issue

Library of Congress, Washington, DC

25 Aug 1830, Original, Single Issue

Huntington Library Art Gallery & Gardens, San Marino, CA

8 Dec 1830, Original, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

8 Dec 1830, Microfilm, Single Issue

Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, NY

19 Jan 1831, Original, Single Issue

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

9 Mar 1831, Original, Single Issue

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

20 Apr 1831, Original, Single Issue

New York State Library, Albany, NY

The Western Times 1830-18??

The Western Times was a Waterloo publication, by Ebenezer P. Mason, established in 1830 and of a short duration. We know of no existing copies of this newspaper.

The University of Washington Library at Seattle, Washington holds a microfilm of some copies of this newspaper but they have not shared which editions they possess.

The Wasp, 1836-18??

This newspaper appears to have had a short lifespan. We know that the first issue was published by Hyder Ali Bill on 20 Jun 1836, and the second on 4 Sep. 1836. It was advertised as a newspaper that was published “once in a while, as occasion may require at $1.00 per year” It is possible that it continued sporadic publication until 1839 and was eventually succeeded by The Hornet in 1839.

20 Jun 1836 – 4 Sep 1836, Original

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

20 Jun 1836, Microfilm, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

The Hornet, 1839-18??

J. Strickland first published The Hornet on June 22, 1839, and perhaps it replaced the earlier The Wasp publication. It was politically an independent newspaper: “We must have a press conducted in the independent principle, and above and beyond the reach of a faction of party.” It’s motto was “No favor sways us and no fear shall awe.” It was located at 87 Wall Street in Waterloo.

22 Jun 1839

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

Daily Seneca Observer, 1846-184?

In 1846, when telegraphic communication was established with Waterloo Village, the Observer published a daily, but it was short-lived.

27 Jun 1846, Original and Microfilm, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

Seneca Observer & Union, 1849-1850

Beginning with the Sept. 20, 1849 issue the Seneca Free Soil Union and Seneca Observer were merged by Sentell & Pew to create the Seneca Observer & Union, also known as the Observer & Union.

15 Nov 1849 – 12 Dec 1850, Microfilm, Incomplete

Brigham Young University Library, Provo, UT

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

15 Nov 1849 – 12 Dec 1850, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

The University of Washington Library at Seattle, Washington holds a microfilm of some copies of this newspaper but they have not shared which editions they possess.

The Seneca Observer, 1851-1870

Mr. Pew was succeeded by Henry Vreeland. The partnership of Sentell & Vreeland was of brief duration, and Charles Sentell again became sole publisher, and so continued until 1866, when Edward W. Sentell, his son, assumed its charge. O. C. Cooper was taken into partnership, and the Observer was carried on in an able manner as an exponent of politics and a medium of news.

2 Jan 1851 – 29 Dec 1869, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

2 Jan 1851 – 29 Dec 1869, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

2 Jan 1851 – 1865, Microfilm, Incomplete

Brigham Young University Library, Provo, UT

29 Jan 1852, Original, Single Issue

Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, NY

2 Sep 1852, Original, Single Issue

New York State Library, Albany, NY

30 Mar 1854, Original, Single Issue

New York State Library, Albany, NY

10 Jan 1856, Original, Single Issue

Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, NY

11 Jun 1857, Original, Single Issue

New York Public Library, New York, NY

6 Jan 1859 – 29 Dec 1859, Original

Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, NY

The University of Washington Library at Seattle, Washington holds a microfilm of some copies of this newspaper but they have not shared which editions they possess.

Waterloo Weekly Journal, 1862-18??

The Waterloo Weekly Journal also known as the Waterloo Journal began publication by Henry G. Vreeland on 15 Aug 1862 and was published weekly for an undetermined period.

24 Oct. 1862, Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

Waterloo Weekly Observer, 1870-1877

N. Hyatt finally assumed the responsibility of conducting the paper in 1870, and remained at its head till its purchase by William H. Burton, in 1872, when Messrs. Wm. H., Wm. A., and John A. Burton became proprietors, and William H. and John A. Burton editors. The paper leaned Democratic. In 1876, Wm. H. Burton was the present proprietor, and Mr. James Joyes its editor, the office being located in rooms of the Yeast Factory buildings. Various ephemeral publications have been absorbed from time to time, and the paper was in good repute, with a large circulation, in 1876. From a sheet of twenty small columns, the Observer expanded to a paper of sixty-four. It was published as The Waterloo Observer in 1873.

19 Oct 1870 – 9 May 1877, Original and Microfilm, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

5 Mar 1873, Original, Single Issue

New York Historical Society, New York, NY

25 Feb 1874 – 27 Dec 1876, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

4 Oct 1876, Original, Single Issue

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA

2 Jun 1880, Original, Single Issue

New York Public Library, New York, NY

Waterloo Register, 1874-1875

The Waterloo Register was published weekly by the Register Printing Co. starting with its first issue on 23 Jun 1874. It continued as a weekly newspaper until it’s last issue published 23 Feb 1875 when it converted to a daily, and was called the Waterloo Evening Register.

8 Dec 1874, Microfilm, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

12 Jan 1875, Microfilm and Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

2 Mar 1875, Microfilm and Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

18 May 1875, Microfilm and Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

25 May 1875, Microfilm and Original, Single Issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

Waterloo Evening Register, 1875-1875

The Waterloo Evening Register was a daily paper (except Sunday) that began with the March 2, 1875 issue. It was a short lived paper published by the Register Printing Co. likely ceasing publication before or during 1877.

2 Mar 1875 – 7 Jun 1875, Original and Microfilm, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

The Catholic Times, 1877-18??

The Catholic Times was a weekly newspaper published by the Catholic Times Co. starting with its first issue on 26 July 1877. It continued pulishing probably until its 25 Dec 1879 issue.

26 Jul 1877 – 25 Dec 1879, Original

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

26 Jul 1877 – 4 Apr 1878, Microfilm

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

Waterloo Observer, 1877-1961

The Waterloo Observer succeeded the Waterloo Weekly Observer on May 16, 1877 with William H. Burton, William A. Burton, and John A. Burton publishers. Other publishers of the newspaper include William H. Burton, 1879-1883, Stahl & Lerch, 1890-1891; A. L. Childs, 1896; S. H. & L. W. Ferenbaugh, 1903-1905; Rowland L. Hughey, 1936-195?; Waterloo Observer, Inc., 195?-1961. The Waterloo Observer was published as the Waterloo Observer and Democrat during the year 1901.

16 May 1877 – 17 Mar 1961, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

2 Jan 1878 – 17 Mar 1961, Microfilm, Incomplete

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Library, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, NY

2 Jul 1879, Original, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

16 Jul 1879, Original, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

21 Sep 1881, Original, Single Issue

Rochester Historical Society, Rochester, NY

24 Oct 1883, Original, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

15 May 1903, Original, Single Issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Seneca County News, 1878-1964

The Seneca County News was first published by A. L. Childs in Waterloo, N.Y. on Dec. 20, 1878 and was continuously published there through 1961, when it was moved to Seneca Falls, N.Y., from 1962-1964. We believe it ceased publication in 1964. During 1892-1921 Elias Vair was the publisher, he could have taken over earlier and lasted longer.

20 Dec 1878 – 31 Oct 1963, Original, Scattered issues missing

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

20 Dec 1878 – 29 Dec 1881, Microfilm

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

14 Feb 1879, Original, Single issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

23 January 1880 – 30 Jan 1880, Original

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

23 Jun 1881, Original, Single issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

1882-1963, Microfilm, Scattered issues missing

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

New York State Libr, Albany, NY

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

25 Dec 1883, Original, Single issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

8 Jan 1884, Original, Single issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

17 Sep 1901, Original, Single issue

Record Newspapers Archives, Troy, N.Y

12 Nov 1918, Original, Single issue

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

The Seneca Chief, 1897-19??

The Seneca Chief was published by Oliver C. Cooper starting with his first issue of 18 Sept. 1897. It is unknown how long it remained in publication.

18 Sep. 1897, Orginal and Microfilm, Single issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

Seneca Democrat, 18??-18??

We are unsure of the dates for the publishing of the Seneca Democrat. We do know that it was published on 31 Oct. 1853 at the least, as that is the date for the one issue that remains.

31 Oct 1853, Original, Single issue

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

Seneca County News-Letter, 18??-19??

It appears that at least for a short time, this Geneva New York newspaper reached circulation in the county of Seneca and for a time, adopted the name of North Seneca News-Letter (1894-1897) and was also known as the North and South Seneca News-Letter, South Seneca News-Letter, and the Seneca County News-Letter. It was published by James Malette.

1887-1897, Original, Incomplete

Waterloo Library and Historical Society, Waterloo, N.Y.

Seneca County Standard, 1911-1922

N.W. Ayer & Son’s American Newspaper Annual and Directory of 1921 shows this newspaper as having originated in 1911, and in 1921 being published in Waterloo by O. J. Connell. At that time it was a Democratic leaning paper and had a circulation of 880. I believe this paper was assumed by E. D. Clark at some point prior to 1922 and he combined this paper with the Seneca County Reveille and moved it’s publication in 1922 to the village of Seneca Falls where he published it under a new masthead The Seneca Falls Reveille and Seneca County Standard. We do no believe any issues of this newspaper have survived.

Between the Lakes, 1995-Current

Published weekly since 1995 by the Lakes Communications. It’s motto is “The new look between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.” There are some editions of this newspaper stored as originals at the New York State Library in Albany, New York, but we are uncertain as to the years covered.

Footnotes

This fact is in part correct. The paper continued the name of Observer throughout it’s publication, but it changed names over time to either reflect the town, county, or political interest. ↩

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